Empirical evidence on digitization enabling the transition to a green economy in China.

In the context of the new normal, enhancing digitalization to empower the transition to a green economy is a critical instrument to promote China's economic transition from virtual to real sectors. It is also a necessary approach to realize the high-quality economic development in China. Based on panel data of 282 prefecture-level and above cities in China from 2011 to 2020, the study employs panel regression, spatial metrics, and other methods to explore the impact of urban digitization on the transition to a green economy from the dimensions of direct and indirect transmission mechanism, as well as heterogeneous effects. The findings reveal that digitalization not only exerts a positive effect on the green transition but also generates significant spatial spillover effects. The influence of digitization level on green economic transition exhibits notable regional heterogeneity. Advancement in digitization can foster green economic transition by catalyzing green technological innovation. While digitalization contributes to the green transition by optimizing the structure of energy consumption, its mediating effect is relatively modest. Therefore, it is essential to fortify the supply of digital innovative technology and strengthen digitalization and green technology innovation to jointly facilitate the transition to a green economy. This necessitates the implementation of differentiated development paths for digitization-enabled green economic transition in various regions.

How does executive green cognition affect enterprise green technology innovation? The mediating effect of ESG performance.

This study uses data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2012 to 2021 to empirically examine the impact and action mechanisms of executives' green cognition on enterprises' green technology innovation (GTI). The results of Poisson regression show that executives' green cognition have a significant effect on promoting enterprise GTI, with the conclusion remaining valid after endogenous and robustness tests. Moreover, the mechanism test indicates that executive green cognition could promote enterprise GTI by enhancing their ESG performance. Further analyses find that both government environmental regulation and executive overseas experience have strengthened the promotion effect of executive green cognition on enterprise GTI. These findings provide a new action mechanism path for the relationship between executive cognition and corporate innovation and a micro-level theoretical basis for policy recommendations for promoting enterprises' GTI and ESG practices.

Cross border e-commerce development and enterprise digital technology innovation-empirical evidence from listed companies in China.

As the main form of digital trade, cross-border e-commerce plays an important role, allowing China to expand its opening-up and promote the optimal foreign trade structure. It also provides opportunities for Chinese enterprises to develop digital technology. From the perspective of the establishment of China's cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zone (CBECPZ), this article uses the multi-period DID method to examine the effects of cross-border e-commerce on enterprise digital technology innovation based on listed companies in the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets from 2007 to 2020. The CBECPZ dramatically promotes enterprise digital technology innovation. The mechanism test shows that the CBECPZ promotes digital technology innovation by financing constraint alleviation, digital transformation, and producer service industry agglomeration. The heterogeneity test shows that the direct effect is more significant in the enterprises of large-scale, non-state-owned, with high ICT correlation and in areas with strong government resource allocation capabilities. The research findings have important reference value for how to utilize cross-border e-commerce to promote digital technology innovation, and they also provide directional references for other developing countries to develop cross-border e-commerce.

The impact of market integration on industrial green transformation: A case study of the yangtze river delta in China.

Regional integration plays an important role in dicarbon reduction and sustainability development. Based on dynamic panel model and spatial econometric model, this study analyzes the impact of market integration (MI) on industrial green transformation (IGT). The study finds that: (1) MI has a nonlinear relationship with the IGT. With the increasing of MI degree, the IGT shows the characteristic of first rising and then declining. (2) MI plays a role in the IGT mainly through industrial agglomeration, resource mismatch and green technological progress, respectively. (3) The impact of MI on IGT exhibits spatial heterogeneity. Although MI significantly promotes IGT in core cities, its impact on the IGT in peripheral cities is not significant. (4) The IGT has spatial spillover effect, and the improvement of MI degree in adjacent regions can also promote the IGT in the cities.

Measurement and evaluation of agricultural technological innovation efficiency in the Yellow River Basin of China under water resource constraints.

Improving the efficiency of agricultural technology innovation is an inevitable requirement for ecological protection and sustainable agricultural development in the Yellow River Basin. Under the background of prominent water resources constraints in the Yellow River Basin, the actual level and regional differences of agricultural technology innovation efficiency in the basin are analyzed, which will provide theoretical basis and data reference for the development plan of agricultural modernization in the Yellow River Basin. The construction of evaluation index system and the choice of method are the main factors that affect the measurement results. Therefore, this paper first selects input indicators such as water-saving technology level and output indicators such as total agricultural output value to construct an innovative evaluation index system of agricultural technology innovation efficiency in the Yellow River Basin under the consideration of water resources constraints. Secondly, the three-stage DEA model was used to eliminate the interference of external environmental variables, and the overall and regional agricultural technology innovation efficiency of the Yellow River Basin during 2011-2020 was measured with the data of prefecture-level cities under the constraint of water resources. Finally, from the perspective of the whole and the region, the spatio-temporal dynamic evolution law is analyzed and evaluated. The results show that: on the whole, the agricultural technology innovation efficiency in the Yellow River Basin is good and rising in a wave trend, the adjusted pure technology efficiency increases, while the scale efficiency decreases. From the regional perspective, although there is regional heterogeneity, the overall development trend is good, and the lower Yellow River has the highest efficiency, followed by the upper reaches and the middle reaches. From the perspective of the change law, the spatio-temporal evolution distribution shows a multi-polarization trend, and the different regions in the upper, middle and lower reaches show great differences. Therefore, promoting the innovation of water-saving technology and the integration of agricultural science and technology, promoting the integration of production, study and research, and strengthening the regional linkage mechanism are helpful to improve the competitiveness of agricultural science and technology and achieve sustainable agricultural development in the Yellow River Basin.

From bits to green: Unraveling the digital economy's influence on natural resource efficiency.

This study explores the impact of the digital economy (DE) on natural resource efficiency (NRE) across 275 Chinese cities between 2011 and 2021. Through a comprehensive empirical analysis, we find that the DE significantly positively affects NRE. A key moderating factor in this relationship is green technological innovation (GTI), focusing on the quality rather than the quantity of green technology. Our study also uncovers regional variations of moderating effect. Additionally, we identify several mechanisms through which the DE contributes to enhanced NRE, including the transformation of industrial structure and improvements in green total factor productivity. A detailed heterogeneity analysis shows that the DE's impact on NRE varies according to city-specific factors such as natural resource endowment, city size, environmental regulations, and administrative levels. These findings provide a more nuanced understanding of how the DE influences NRE at the urban level, contributing to the broader discourse on sustainable development in the digital age. Our research offers policy recommendations and potential pathways for cities to leverage the DE for greater natural resource efficiency.

Blessing or curse? The role of digital technology innovation in carbon emission efficiency.

Digital technology advancement provides a significant impetus to achieve China's "dual-carbon" goals, yet it also gives rise to a series of challenges. Therefore, studying the relationship between digital technology innovation and carbon emission efficiency is of paramount importance. This study theoretically analyzes and empirically tests the influence of digital technology innovation (DTI) on total factor carbon emission efficiency (TFCE) using panel data from 268 Chinese cities between 2006 and 2021. The results indicate that: (1) DTI exhibits a "U-shaped" pattern on urban TFCE, with a decrease followed by an increase. (2) Conventional technological innovation (TI) also displays a "U-shaped" relationship with TFCE, with the turning point occurring earlier than that of DTI. DTI surpasses TI in bringing about later-stage improvements in carbon emission efficiency. (3) Mechanism tests reveal that digital technology innovation indirectly affects TFCE through energy effects, technological effects, structural effects, and regulatory effects. (4) The impact of DTI on urban TFCE varies significantly due to differences in geographical location and resource endowments. (5) The development of urban polycentricity advances the turning point at which DTI enhances TFCE while amplifying both the initial "pro-carbon" effect and the subsequent "carbon reduction" effect of DTI. (6) DTI has a spatial spillover effect on urban TFCE. This study provides empirical evidence and policy recommendations for policymakers to advance the digitalization, greening, and decarbonization transformation of cities.

Impact of digital technology innovation on carbon intensity: evidence from China's manufacturing A-share listed enterprises.

Current studies do not provide a consensus on whether digital technology innovation can reduce enterprise carbon intensity despite the rise of the digital economy. This paper examines the role and influence pathway of digital technology innovation on enterprise carbon intensity using data from A-share listed enterprises in China's manufacturing industry from 2012 to 2021. The findings indicate that (1) digital technology innovation has been found to significantly reduce enterprise carbon intensity, as confirmed by numerous robustness and endogeneity tests. However, its inhibitory effect on carbon intensity shows a marginal decreasing trend. (2) In the heterogeneity analysis, it was found that digital technology innovation significantly reduces the carbon intensity of consuming coal, coke, kerosene, and diesel. From various perspectives, including enterprise, industry, and external environment, there are significant differences in the carbon reduction effects of digital technology innovation. (3) The analysis of impact paths reveals that digital technology innovation can affect enterprise carbon intensity through three paths: improving productivity, enhancing green innovation efficiency, and adjusting energy consumption. (4) Upon further analysis, it was discovered that the spillover effect of digital technology innovation is more pronounced in the industry cohort of enterprises. Additionally, digital technology innovation plays a positive role in enhancing enterprise ESG performance. The paper's findings offer empirical evidence and decision-making references for the government to develop reasonable policies for reducing carbon emissions, promoting green and low-carbon enterprise transformation, and actively and steadily achieving the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

How does green finance impact carbon emissions in China: Evidence from the fintech perspective.

In light of China's objectives for carbon peak and carbon neutrality, there is an opportunity for fintech to leverage its technological advantages and enhance its integration with green finance (GF). This can bring about enhanced coverage and precision of financial services for green industries, facilitating the transformation towards a sustainable, greener, and low-carbon real economy. We investigate how fintech development influences the carbon emission reduction effects of GF utilizing a two-way fixed effects model with a panel dataset covering 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2020. Our findings indicate that the negative impact of GF on carbon emissions (CE) is heightened in areas with high levels of fintech development. Furthermore, we notice regional disparities in how fintech development impacts the effectiveness of GF in reducing CE. Specifically, fintech has a statistically significant impact in the central and western regions, whereas its significance is absent in the eastern region. Lastly, our mechanism analysis reveals that fintech plays a vital role in enhancing GF's capacity to mitigate CE, which is achieved through channels of promoting green technology innovation (GTI), alleviating corporate financing constraints (FC), and optimizing energy structure (ES). These findings provide compelling evidence for the positive effect of fintech on the environment and offer justification for promoting the development of fintech and GF.

Centering Digital Health Equity During Technology Innovation: Protocol for a Comprehensive Scoping Review of Evidence-Based Tools and Approaches.

BACKGROUND: In the rush to develop health technologies for the COVID-19 pandemic, the unintended consequence of digital health inequity or the inability of priority communities to access, use, and receive equal benefits from digital health technologies was not well examined. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review will examine tools and approaches that can be used during digital technology innovation to improve equitable inclusion of priority communities in the development of digital health technologies. The results from this study will provide actionable insights for professionals in health care, health informatics, digital health, and technology development to proactively center equity during innovation. METHODS: Based on the Arksey and O'Malley framework, this scoping review will consider priority communities' equitable involvement in digital technology innovation. Bibliographic databases in health, medicine, computing, and information sciences will be searched. Retrieved citations will be double screened against the inclusion and exclusion criteria using Covidence (Veritas Health Innovation). Data will be charted using a tailored extraction tool and mapped to a digital health innovation pathway defined by the Centre for eHealth Research roadmap for eHealth technologies. An accompanying narrative synthesis will describe the outcomes in relation to the review's objectives. RESULTS: This scoping review is currently in progress. The search of databases and other sources returned a total of 4868 records. After the initial screening of titles and abstracts, 426 studies are undergoing dual full-text review. We are aiming to complete the full-text review stage by May 30, 2024, data extraction in October 2024, and subsequent synthesis in December 2024. Funding was received on October 1, 2023, from the Centre for Health Equity Incubator Grant Scheme, University of Melbourne, Australia. CONCLUSIONS: This paper will identify and recommend a series of validated tools and approaches that can be used by health care stakeholders and IT developers to produce equitable digital health technology across the Centre for eHealth Research roadmap. Identified evidence gaps, possible implications, and further research will be discussed. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/53855.

Digital economy and the synergistic governance of pollutants and carbon emissions: Facilitation or obstruction?

As an emerging force enabling high-quality economic development, digital economy (DE) still requires further investigation regarding its impact on synergistic governance of pollutants and carbon emissions (SGPCE). This study examines the impact of DE on SGPCE using two-way fixed effects model, intermediary effect model, and spatial Durbin model using provincial panel data from 2011 to 2020. The research reveals that: (1) DE has a significant promoting effect on SGPCE. (2) Enhancing the degree of green technology innovation is a crucial means of transmission for DE to propel SGPCE. (3) DE additionally exerts a constructive influence on SGPCE in adjacent regions, manifesting a spatial spillover effect. (4) Furthermore, DE demonstrates a notably heightened impact on SGPCE in the western region with respect to regional heterogeneity. Additionally, in the realm of dimension heterogeneity, the industrial digitization yields more favorable dividends for SGPCE compared to digital industrialization. The above conclusions provide novel insights and empirical evidence to validate the connection between DE and SGPCE. It also gives new policy recommendations for China to combat pollution prevention and climate warming under the wave of global digitization.

How does digital finance reduce carbon emissions intensity? Evidence from chain mediation effect of production technology innovation and green technology innovation.

The digitalization of finance drives economic development and plays a crucial role in energy conservation and carbon emission reduction. Utilizing carbon emissions data from 2011 to 2020, we find that digital finance development can mitigate carbon emissions intensity (CEI) by approximately 0.14 %. Then, we employ a diverse set of robustness and endogeneity tests to assess the reliability of the empirical findings. Moreover, the study delves into how digital finance impacts CEI through production technology innovation (PTI) and green technology innovation (GTI). The results indicate a positive effect of PTI on CEI. GTI exerts a negative influence on CEI. In addition, there is a chain mediation effect between PTI and GTI in the baseline path. Finally, the impact of digital finance on CEI exhibits apparent regional heterogeneity.

Innovation for a greener future: Disentangling the asymmetric impact of green finance on green technology in european union economies.

Green finance has originated as a critical factor for green development, where green technology innovation is a primary approach. Yet, limited information is available regarding how green finance influences green technological creation. This work probes the asymmetric linkage between green finance and green technology innovation in the selected European Union countries (Germany, Sweden, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, and Finland). Prior works adopted panel data methods to get usual outcomes concerning the green finance-green technology nexus, nevertheless the reality is that various nations did not establish such connection separately. The present work, in contrast, utilizes a peculiar tool, 'Quantile-on-Quantile,' that facilitates research to probe temporal reliance in entire nations by giving global yet economy-specific intuitions on the variables' correlation. Estimates exhibit that green finance enhances green technology innovation in almost all our chosen nations at definite quantiles of data distribution. Furthermore, the findings expose that the extent of asymmetry throughout various quantiles of our variables differs by the economy, emphasising the relevance of policymakers paying particular consideration while employing green innovation and green finance policies.

Utilizing Ant Forest technology to foster sustainable behaviors: A novel approach towards environmental conservation.

Amidst mounting environmental threats and exacerbated global risks from climate change, the urgency for sustainable behaviors has never been more critical, demanding concerted efforts to cultivate individual actions for environmental conservation. Ant Forest technology, a groundbreaking innovation for sustainable lifestyles, stands at the forefront of this battle, harnessing technological advancements to drive positive environmental impact and must be championed. This research investigates the dynamics of environmental conservation behaviors facilitated by Ant Forest Technology. Employing a theoretical framework integrating the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the study explores the impact of autonomous and controlled motivation on attitudes, intentions, and conservation behaviors. Furthermore, the research assesses the influence of knowledge disseminated through Ant Forest Technology on users' intentions and behavior toward conservation behaviors. The study utilized the partial least square structural equation modeling in its analysis. Findings reveal that both motivational factors and knowledge significantly shape users' engagement in conservation behaviors activities through perceived ease of use and usefulness. These insights contribute to the development of effective policies and interventions aimed at harnessing Ant Forest Technology as a powerful tool for fostering widespread environmental conservation behaviors.

Exploring the nexus between green finance and energy efficiency: Unravelling the impact through green technology innovation and energy structure.

This study delves into the intricate relationship between green finance and energy efficiency, focusing on how green technology innovation and energy structure transformations contribute to this dynamic. Utilizing panel data from China's provinces over the period 2015-2022, the research aims to uncover the nuances of how green finance can serve as a catalyst for enhancing energy efficiency across different regions. The objective is to quantify the impact of green finance on energy efficiency, considering the mediating roles of green technology innovation and shifts in energy structure. The analysis employs a sophisticated panel entropy weighting technique to analyze the data, ensuring a robust examination of the relationships between these variables. The results reveal a significant positive impact of green finance on energy efficiency, mediated by advances in green technology and modifications in the energy structure towards more sustainable forms. Specifically, regions with higher engagement in green finance initiatives demonstrated marked improvements in energy efficiency, attributed to substantial investments in green technologies and a gradual shift away from traditional, inefficient energy sources. These findings underscore the pivotal role of green finance in driving the transition towards a more energy-efficient and sustainable economic model. Policy implications drawn from this study suggest that targeted financial policies promoting green investments can significantly bolster energy efficiency.

Environmental taxes, technological innovation and firm performance: Evidence from China's manufacturing firms.

Based on panel data from 2011 to 2019 for heavily polluting listed firms in the manufacturing industry, this paper examines the impact of environmental taxes on technological innovation and firm performance using the propensity score matching (PSM) and differences-in-differences (DID) methods. The empirical results show the following: (i) Firm performance and innovation quantity are positively affected by environmental taxes. The average effects of environmental taxes on firm performance and innovation quantity are 1.28 and 0.219, respectively. However, environmental taxes have no significant impact on innovation quality. (ii) A mechanism analysis reveals that innovation quantity plays a significant partial mediating role in the positive effect of environmental taxes on firm performance. (iii) Heterogeneity analysis shows that different environmental tax rates lead to a variation in innovation quantity and firm performance across regions. The positive effect of environmental taxes on innovation quantity is only confirmed in high-tax and low-tax areas. Meanwhile, high environmental taxes are related to better firm performance. Based on the research, policy recommendations are put forward to optimise environmental taxes, such as improving the environmental tax system and coordinating environmental tax and innovation policies.

Reducing carbon emissions in prefabricated buildings supply chains: a focus on component manufacturing processes.

The construction sector accounts for 23% of CO 2 emissions from global economic activity, with China responsible for nearly 41%. Although China has vigorously promoted the development of prefabricated buildings (PBS) in pursuit of cleaner production, the carbon emissions from prefabricated component factories (PCF) should not be underestimated. So, the focus of this research was on how to promote the decarbonization of PCF. Based on the carbon trading market mechanism, the carbon emissions trading tax and revenue tax collection, the authors established a differential game model consisting of the local government and the PCF, studied the equilibrium solutions under different decision models, and analyzed the roles of the two tax systems, carbon trading revenue, and market preferences. The results are as follows: (1) The PCF's low-carbon technology (LCT) innovation efforts can be directly affected by the carbon price, component price, and tax rate and indirectly affected by influencing the local government's efforts. Besides, the local government and the PCF strategies can be changed through the central government's regulation of carbon prices and tax rates. (2) PCF should set reasonable prices for components, improving economic efficiency and the LCT stocks. (3) Cost-sharing contracts can encourage PCF to increase their LCT innovation, which is conducive to increasing the optimal benefits of the PCF. (4) The local government cannot be motivated by cost-sharing contracts. They can increase their optimal benefits only if the cost-sharing coefficient is below a threshold or if the environmental benefits from low-carbon production are above a specific value.

Impact of carbon emission trading system on green technology innovation of energy enterprises in China.

China proposed establishing a carbon emission trading market in its 12th Five-Year Plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through market mechanisms, promote the development of science and technology and help China become an environment-friendly country. To examine the impact of carbon emission trading on green technology innovation in Chinese energy enterprises, data from 1993 to 2020 were collected from 494 A-share-listed energy enterprises. Enterprises located in the pilot area of carbon emissions trading were assigned to the treatment group, while those in the non-pilot area were assigned to the control group. The propensity-score-matching method was utilized to match the treatment group with the control group, and the resulting samples were used as the actual sample data. The difference-in-differences method was then employed to assess the net impact of carbon emission trading and investigate its effect on green technology innovation in energy enterprises. This empirical study suggested that carbon emission trading has a positive impact on green technology innovation in energy enterprises, particularly state-owned ones. Larger enterprises are more willing to engage in green technological innovation than small enterprises. Furthermore, when faced with a carbon emission trading system, 'mature' companies tend to pay more attention to green technology innovation than younger enterprises do. This study puts forward policy measures for establishing a national-level carbon emission market in China in the future.

Green technology innovation and carbon emission efficiency: The moderating role of environmental uncertainty.

Given the significant global warming caused by large-scale carbon emissions, it has become a crucial issue affecting human survival and world development. As a supportive means for relevant policies, the implementation of green technology innovation is essential for effectively achieving dual carbon goals. In order to explore the intrinsic relationship and impact mechanism between green technology innovation and carbon emission efficiency, this study takes data from high-energy-consuming manufacturing companies listed on the A-share market in China from 2010 to 2019 as samples. It uses the Super-SBM model to measure the carbon emission efficiency of sample companies and employs a two-way fixed effects model to verify the impact of green technology innovation on the carbon emission efficiency of high-energy-consuming manufacturing enterprises. Furthermore, this study also explores the external mechanism of green technology innovation related to carbon emission efficiency, focusing on the moderating variable of environmental uncertainty. The study found that both the quantity and quality of green technology innovation can significantly promote the carbon emission efficiency of high-energy-consuming manufacturing enterprises, and the accuracy of the results remains unchanged after conducting robustness tests. Environmental uncertainty plays an important role in moderating the process of green technology innovation, affecting the carbon emission efficiency of high-energy-consuming manufacturing enterprises. Heterogeneity tests show that the impact of green technology innovation on carbon emission efficiency is particularly significant in the central region and in enterprises experiencing decline. The policy implications derived from empirical analysis aim to provide empirical evidence for promoting the high-quality development of China's high-energy-consuming manufacturing enterprises.

A study on the impact of ESG rating on green technology innovation in enterprises: An empirical study based on informal environmental governance.

Improving corporate green technology innovation is a key link in achieving green transformation and development. Compared with formal environmental regulations that force companies to carry out green innovation passively, ESG ratings under soft environmental regulations can better stimulate the internal motivation of companies. This study uses the ESG ratings of listed companies published for the first time by SynTao Green Finance as an exogenous impact. Taking China's A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2022 as a research sample, the multi-period differences-in-differences model was used to empirically test the impact of ESG rating soft supervision on corporate green technology innovation. The results show that the impact of ESG rating events as a soft market regulation has a significant positive impact on the improvement of corporate green technology innovation. This conclusion still holds after a series of robustness tests. Meanwhile, enterprise digital transformation plays a positive regulatory role. The heterogeneity test shows that the green technology innovation of state-owned enterprises is more affected by ESG ratings. Mechanism research has found that ESG rating events promote corporate green technology innovation by easing corporate financing constraints and reducing managerial myopia. Further research found that under the influence of the external environment, intensified market competition and increased attention from the capital market are also conducive to the improvement of corporate green technology innovation. This study strengthens the corporate ESG concept under the guidance of green development and provides empirical evidence for promoting corporate green transformation.